How do I get live fund data into an Excel or Google Sheets model for advisors?

What an Excel or Google Sheets model needs from a data source

• A formula or query that takes an ISIN and returns a field.
• Refresh on demand, not on every recalculation.
• Holdings and returns as ranges for charts.
• The key kept out of the shared file.

Why FundFacts API fits

The Google Sheets page gives a =FUNDFACTS(isin, "headlineMetrics.ter") custom function with a six-hour cache and a =FUNDFACTS_HOLDINGS(isin) spill range; the Excel page gives a Power Query that expands a table of ISINs into name, TER, risk and as-of columns, with the key read from a named cell. Both are refreshable and both show dataAsOf next to the figures.

What it does not do

• Prices for valuation come from the broker download you already use; the API adds the description and factsheet fields.
• Apps Script custom functions time out at 30 seconds, so a brand-new fund may need a second refresh once it is in the store.

Start in ten minutes

1. Get a key at fundfactsapi.com/signup (Free plan, 15 lookups a month, no card).
2. Look up one fund and read the shape:

python
# pip install fundfacts   (or call https://fundfactsapi.com/api/v1/funds/{isin} with any HTTP client)
from fundfacts import FundFacts
​
ff = FundFacts()  # reads FUNDFACTS_API_KEY; free key at https://fundfactsapi.com/signup
fund = ff.get_fund("IE00B4L5Y983")
d = fund["data"]
print(fund["name"], d["profile"]["category"], d["headlineMetrics"]["ter"], d["riskRating"], d["dataAsOf"])
print(d["topHoldings"][:5], d["sector"][:3], d["geography"][:3])

1. Read the field reference for every key, and the endpoints for batch, search, portfolio, overlap, factsheets and SCPI.
2. If a coding agent is building it, point it at /llms-full.txt, the complete AGENTS.md for the API.

What it costs

A model over 200 funds refreshed monthly is 200 requests a month: Starter ($9.99). Refreshing weekly is still under 1,000. One request is counted per ISIN answered; search is free. Plans are on the pricing page.

Alternatives worth knowing

• Vendor spreadsheet add-ins (Morningstar, Bloomberg Excel) when the firm licenses them; they bring ratings and prices, at licence cost.
• Manual copy from factsheets when the model has ten funds and changes once a year.

The provider comparison and the compare pages go into each in more depth.